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Communion

We believe that Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the Church: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper / Communion. Both are available to all believers. In communion, the bread and juice are symbols that represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is present when we take communion and he draws us into intimate friendship with God.

In what we know now as “The Last Supper,” Jesus shared the Passover meal with his closest followers on the night he was betrayed. At that meal, Jesus taught his disciples that the Passover was a sign that pointed to Him. He was the spotless lamb whose body would be broken and whose blood would be shed for the forgiveness of sins. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.‘” (Matthew 26:26-29)

The Apostle Paul also wrote about this to the early church, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Today, Christians acknowledge this new covenant by celebrating the communion meal (also known as the Lord’s Supper, or the “Eucharist” – from the Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”). At Liberty Vineyard Church, we celebrate communion during our Sunday services each week by sharing flatbread and grape juice together as an act of worship, thanksgiving, trust, and obedience.

Vineyard Institute essay quotes

Seeking the LORD is not simply one option that may be chosen from a menu of alternatives. God is not in competition with anyone or anything. The absence of good advice is not alternatives — it is no advice at all. God’s instruction lets us know the way of wisdom — the criteria for making good life choices. If we choose to ignore His instructions, our choices will lead to consequences we do not really want. But the more closely we follow His way, the better our consequences will be.